Las Vegas Sun

Virgin Valley makes halftime adjustments to edge Pahrump Valley

Members of the Virgin Valley High School football team, from left, Cresent Crandall, Jayden Perkins, Cade Anderson and Timmy Moeai pose for a portrait at the Las Vegas Sun’s high school football media day August 2, 2017, at the South Point.

The Virgin Valley football team led Pahrump Valley Friday night at halftime despite its defense surrendering 28 points in the opening stanza.

The Bulldogs’ offense, spearheaded by all-city running back Jayden Perkins, scored 30 points of their own, but coach Yori Ludvigson knew defensive adjustments were needed if his team was going to see a second round of the playoffs.

“We just started doing what we went over all week,” Ludvigson said. “We just weren’t reading what we were taught. It wasn’t anything new but just went back and looked at our cues.”

The defense responded, holding Pahrump Valley to only one second-half touchdown on its way to a 43-34 win in the 3A Southern Region quarterfinals.

Perkins had 26 touches for 357 total yards and five touchdowns. The senior back had scores of four, 45, 47, 67 and 80 yards Friday night.

“He’s just a stud,” Ludvigson said. “He’s so huge for this team. He has the speed to break the big ones this year that he didn’t quite have last season.”

The win sets up a rematch with Mojave, who Virgin Valley lost to 26-0 earlier this season.

“They put a smackdown on us,” Ludvigson said. “We gave up a ton of points and they flat out got after us. We have to shut down the run this time.”